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Using OverDrive on Windows 8

The software you need to access OverDrive titles on Windows 8 will depend on which version of Windows 8 you have and what you want to do with the titles you download.

There are two versions of Windows 8: Windows 8, which is more common, and a variant of Windows 8 called Windows RT, which was created for specific mobile devices.

There are also two versions of OverDrive Media Console for Windows 8: the classic desktop version, which you may be familiar with from earlier versions of Windows, and OverDrive Media Console for Windows 8, which looks very different from the classic version.

The classic desktop version of OverDrive Media Console will let you play MP3, WMA, and WMV files from OverDrive. It will also let you transfer MP3 and WMA audiobooks to approved devices. It will not let you read eBooks.

OverDrive Media Console for Windows 8 will let you find, download, and open eBooks in EPUB format and/or audiobooks in MP3 format. It will not let you play WMA audiobooks or WMV files. It also will not let you transfer MP3 or EPUB files to a device.

On Windows 8 you can install both versions of OverDrive Media Console. On Windows RT you can install only OverDrive Media Console for Windows 8. As a result, WMA audiobooks are unavailable on Windows RT.

If you have a Windows 8 tablet and want to transfer EPUB eBooks from your tablet to another device:

You must open the EPUB eBooks in Adobe Digital Editions. Please follow the instructions here.

If you have a Windows 8 tablet and want to download WMA or MP3 audiobooks to transfer to an approved device:

You will need to install the classic version of OverDrive Media Console.

You will get a message that the app is installing, and then the message "OverDrive Media Console was installed."

Go back to the Windows Start and swipe the desktop to the right to show the OverDrive app.

Click/tap "Find a library."

Click/tap "United States," then "Florida," then "Alachua County Library District."

Click/tap the name of the library again.

You're taken to our OverDrive collection.

You can browse for titles, search, or do an advanced search.

Under "Advanced Search" you can specify ahead of time that you want only titles with copies available.

You can also specify in search results or in a category that you want to see only available copies.

The icon at top right of the cover shows the format of the title and whether it's currently available.*A book icon indicates that the title is an eBook; a pair of headphones indicates an audiobook; musical notes indicate downloadable music, etc. *A dark, easily visible icon means that there is a copy available, a much fainter icon indicates that all copies are checked out and you will have to place a hold.

Click/tap the cover of what you want to download.

Click/tap "Borrow."

You will have to log in if you're not logged in already.

Click/tap "Download (Select one format)."

Click/tap the box beside the format you want to download, then click/tap "Confirm & Download."

You may get a dialog box asking what to do with the file.

For MP3 audiobooks or EPUB eBooks which you do not want to transfer to another device, choose "Open" then "OverDrive Media Console for Windows 8."

For WMA or WMV files, or for MP3 titles you do want to transfer to another device, choose "Open" then "OverDrive Media Console" (not OverDrive Media Console for Windows 8).

For EPUB eBooks you want to transfer to another device, choose "Adobe Digital Editions."

To return EPUB or MP3 titles early from OverDrive Media Console for Windows 8:

Click/tap the cover and swipe down. A bar shows up at the bottom of the screen.